Solder-bearing terminal

Abstract

A solderable lead is provided for connecting an electrically conductive element (such as a terminal clip, or a connector contact, or a semiconductor chip holder terminal) to a metallic area on a substrate or the like, the solderable lead having a discrete slug of solder mechanically engaged in a special way in a position to be melted for bonding the lead to the metallic area. In one form of solderable lead, a terminal clip portion adapted to be secured to a metallic area on a second substrate is also provided, the terminal clip portion having one or two additional discrete masses of solder mechanically engaged with the clip portion in position to be melted for bonding the clip to one or two metallic areas on the second substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A terminal clip adapted to be secured to a contact area on a substrate comprising: an elongated body portion having a free end and a stem end, said body portion being cut to define a central spring finger between spaced portions of the body portion,   said central finger being bent out of the plane of the body portion at approximately the point of attachment of said finger to the body portion, said central finger being cut to define a retaining tab, said retaining tab being bent out of the plane of said central finger at approximately the point of attachment of said tab to said central finger,   said free end of said body portion beyond the point of attachment of said central finger being bent out of the plane of the body portion in the same direction as the central finger, said central finger and free end defining a gap to receive a substrate therein; and   a discrete mass of solder in the bend formed between the body portion and the central finger, the retaining tab being indented into the mass of solder and holding said mass of solder in said bend, said bend being less than 180°, and on the side of said central finger nearer said stem end of said body portion.   
     
     
       2. A terminal clip according to claim 1 wherein said body portion is cut on lines extending from the tip of its free end to form two separate additional fingers defining one side of said gap. 
     
     
       3. A terminal clip according to claim 1, wherein said body free end is cut longitudinally along two lines to define a second retaining tab, said second tab being bent out of the plane of said free end at approximately its point of attachment to said free end, said terminal clip further comprising a second discrete mass of solder in the bend formed between said free end and said body portion, said second tab being indented into said second mass of solder and holding said second mass of solder in said bend, said bend being less than 180° and on the side of said additional finger nearer said central spring finger.   
     
     
       4. A terminal clip according to claim 1 wherein the cut in said body portion is substantially U-shaped with its ends directed toward the free end of the body portion and spaced therefrom, and wherein said free end constitutes an additional finger defining one side of said gap. 
     
     
       5. A terminal clip according to claim 4, wherein said additional finger is cut along lines to define a second retaining tab, said second tab being bent out the plane of said additional finger at approximately its point of attachment to said additional finger, said terminal clip further comprising a second discrete mass of solder in the bend formed between the additional finger and the body portion, the second tab being indented into the second mass of solder and holding said second mass of solder in said latter bend, said bend being less than 180° and on the side of said additional finger nearer said central spring finger.   
     
     
       6. A terminal clip adapted to be secured to a contact pad on a substrate comprising: a body portion having a stem end and a free end,   said body portion being bent rearwardly more than 90° out of the plane of said stem end to form a lower contact surface,   said body portion being bent upwardly through an angle less than 180° at a point nearer the free end, the inside of said bend constituting a first cradle,   said body portion further being bent forwardly through an angle less than 180° at a point still nearer said free end of the body portion, said bend constituting a second cradle, said free end constituting an upper contact surface,   said upper and lower contact surfaces defining a gap to receive said substrate,   said body portion being cut longitudinally along two lines and laterally connecting the longitudinal cuts to define a retaining tab, said retaining tab being bent out of the plane of the body portion at approximately the point of attachment of said tab to said body portion in the direction of said gap; and   a discrete mass of solder in the first cradle, the retaining tab being indented into said mass of solder and holding said mass of solder in said first cradle.   
     
     
       7. A terminal clip according to claim 6 wherein said retaining tab is between said first and second cradles,   said body portion between said first and second cradles having a second pair of longitudinal cuts therein defining a second retaining tab,   said second tab being bent out of the plane of said body portion in the direction of said gap,   said terminal clip further comprising a second discrete mass of solder in said second cradle, said second tab being indented into the second mass of solder and holding it in said second cradle.   
     
     
       8. A terminal clip according to claims 1 or 6 further comprising: a stem portion integrally connected to said stem end of said body portion, said stem portion having a flat mounting surface portion, said mounting surface portion being bent out of the plane of said stem portion at an angle greater than 90° but less than 180°, the inside of said bend constituting a stem cradle, the mounting surface portion being cut along lines to define a stem portion retaining tab, said stem portion retaining tab being bent out of the plane of said flat mounting surface portion in the direction of said stem cradle, leaving an opening through said flat mounting surface portion; and   an additional discrete mass of solder in said cradle, the stem portion retaining tab being indented into said additional mass of solder and holding said additional mass of solder in said stem cradle.   
     
     
       9. A solderable lead for connecting an electrically conductive element to a substrate or the like comprising: a connector portion adapted for engagement with said conductive element;   a stem portion integrally connected to said connector portion, said stem portion having a flat mounting surface portion, said mounting surface portion being bent from the remainder of said stem portion to form the inside of said bend into a cradle,   a discrete solder mass in said cradle,   a retaining tab struck out from said mounting surface portion and bent out of the plane of said flat mounting surface portion in the direction of said cradle, and forming an opening through said flat mounting surface portion adapted to permit flow of molten solder therethrough;   said retaining tab being in contact with said solder mass and holding said solder mass in said cradle.   
     
     
       10. A lead as in clip 9 wherein said connector portion is a terminal clip, said terminal clip comprising: an elongated body portion having a free end and a stem end, said body portion being cut to define a central spring finger between spaced portions of the body portion,   said central finger being bent out of the plane of the body portion at approximately the point of attachment of said finger to the body portion, said central finger being cut to define a retaining tab, said retaining tab being bent out of the plane of said central finger at approximately the point of attachment of said tab to said finger,   said free end of said body portion beyond the point of attachment of said central finger being bent out of the plane of the body portion in the same direction as the central finger, said central finger and free end defining a cap to receive a substrate therein; and   a discrete mass of solder in the band formed between the body portion and the central finger, the retaining tab being indented into the mass of solder and holding said mass of solder in said bend, said bend being less than 180 degrees, and on the side of said central finger mearer said stem end of said body portion.   
     
     
       11. A lead as in claim 9 wherein said connector portion is a terminal clip, said termainal clip comprising: a body portion having stem end and a free end,   said body portion being bent rearwardly more than 90 degrees out of the plane of said stem end to form a lower contact surface,   said body portion being bent upwardly thorugh an angle less than 180 degrees at a point nearer the free end, the inside of said bend constituting a first cradle,   said body portion further being bent forwardly through an angle less than 180 degrees at point still nearer said free end of the body portion, said bend constituting a second cradle, said free end constituting an upper contact surface,   said upper and lower contact surface defining a gap to receive a substrate,   said body portion being cut longitudinally along two lines and laterally connecting the longitudinal cuts to define a retaining tab, said retaining tab being bent out of the plane of the body portion at approximately the point of attachment of said tab to said body portion in the direction of said gap; and   a discrete mass of solder in the first cradle, the retaining tab being indented into said mass of solder and holding said mass of solder in said first cradle.   
     
     
       12. A lead as in claim 9 wherein said connector portion forms a spring contact for an electrical connector. 
     
     
       13. A lead as in claim 9 wherein said connector portion is a terminal clip adapted to be coupled to a semiconductor chip holder. 
     
     
       14. A solderable lead for connecting an electrically conductive element to a substrate or the like comprising: a connector portion adapted for engagement with said conductive element;   a stem portion integral with said connector portion,   a discrete solder mass juxtaposed to said stem portion adjacent the end thereof,   said stem portion having at least one integral tab bent outwardly therefrom and retaining said solder mass against said stem portion, said tab leaving an opening in said stem portion for flow of solder from said mass when heated to the melting point.   
     
     
       15. A solderable lead as in claim 14 having two opposed integral tabs extending therefrom and retaining said solder mass, said tabs leaving an opening in said stem portion for flow of solder of said mass when heated to the melting point. 
     
     
       16. A terminal clip adapted to be secured to a contact area on a substrate comprising: an elongatd body portion having a free end and a stem end, said body portion having a spring finger formed therein,   said finger being bent out of the plane of the body portion at approximately the point of attachment of said finger to the body portion, said finger having a retaining tab formed therein, said retaining tab being bent out of the plane of said finger at apprximately the point of attachment of said tab to said finger,   said free end of said body portion beyond the point of attachment of said finger being bent out of the plane of the body portion in the same direction as the finger, said finger and free end defining a gap to receive a substrate therein; and   a discrete mass of solder held between said finger and said retaining tab, said tab being indented into the mass of solder and holding said mass of solder to said finger.   
     
     
       17. A teminal clip according to claim 16, further comprising: a second retaining tab formed therein, each of said retaining tab being bent out of the plane of said finger at approximately the point of attachment of each said tab to said finger,   said mass of solder being held between both retaining tabs and said finger, both tabs being indented into the mass of solder.   
     
     
       18. A termianl clip adapted to be secured to a contact pad on a substrate comprising: a body portion having a stem end and a free end,   said body portion being bent rearwardly mor than 90 degrees out of the plane of said stem end to form a lower contact surface,   said body portion being bent upwardly through an angle less than 180 degrees at a point nearer the free end, the inside of said bend constituting a first cradle,   said body portion further being bent forwardly through an angle less than 180 degrees at a point still nearer said free end of the body portion, said bend constituting a second cradle, said free end constituting an upper contact surface,   said upper and lower contact surfaces defining a gap to receive a substrate,   said body portion being having a retaining tab formed therein, said retaining tab being bent out of the plane of the body portion at aporoximately the point of attachment of said tab to said body portion in the direction of said gap; and   a discrete mass of solder in the first cradle, the retaining tab being indented into said mass of solder and holding said mass of solder in said first cradle.